Mathews beaches to host first Audubon bird walk of 2013

The Northern Neck Audubon Society will feature beaches in Mathews County in the first bird walk of 2013.

Frank Schaff will lead a bird walk in Mathews County at Bethel Beach Natural Area Preserve on Monday, Jan. 14, and, if time allows, at New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve or Haven Beach.

A release said more than 185 species of birds have been observed at Bethel Beach at Onemo, a sandy spit on the Chesapeake Bay. New Point Comfort offers a boardwalk, tidal shallows, mudflats, beach and low woodlands which attract numerous migrating land birds. Possible sightings at both sites include northern gannets, tundra swan, rails, bitterns, and numerous types of waterfowl, including surf scoters, buffleheads, mergansers and lesser scaups.

The walk will start at 8:45 a.m. at Bethel Beach, located at the end of Route 609, Bethel Beach Road, first turning left from Route 14 onto Tabernacle Road, Route 611.